Come Up With a Plan
Before you call the folks at HGTV over and start addressing your home’s needs, you’ll need to determine how much money you have available for your home improvement projects. Luckily, you don’t have to be a recent lottery winner to be able to make a few major changes around your house, as many projects can be done for cheaper than you think. Still, it can be hugely beneficial to manage your budget using HomeZada’s financial assistance tools that take into consideration each project you take on, as well as your mortgage, home insurance, utilities, and more. If you find that your budget is not substantial enough to accommodate as many projects as you’d like, you can jumpstart your budget by taking advantage of online banks that specialize in saving features. Once your finances are straight, it’s time to go to work!
1. Install Weatherstripping
The functions of weatherstripping are twofold, and so, too, are the benefits. Weatherstripping works to protect your house from the elements by sealing gaps around doors, windows, and trunks. In doing so, it also helps to keep interior air in, meaning you’ll save money on heating and air conditioning. Weatherstripping typically lasts about three years and costs homeowners less than $250 on average. However, the amount of money you’ll save between having better insulation and not having to fix water damage means you’ll come out on top in the long run.
2. Upgrade Your Gutters
Everyone loves a good pool, but not when it’s the type that’s in your basement and damaging your walls and foundation! Without a proper drainage system in place, mold and other types of water damage can not only present a major health hazard, but also end up costing you tens of thousands of dollars to repair. Fortunately, installing a new gutter system is on the cheaper end of the home improvement spectrum, typically costing homeowners about $500 – $1,500. Be mindful that gutters and downspouts should direct water away from your house to optimize their effectiveness.
3. Update Your Light Bulbs
There is a clear winner when it comes to buying the best light bulb. LED lights top CFL, incandescent, and fluorescent bulbs in almost every way: from energy efficiency and lifespan to environmental friendliness and minimal heat production. What’s more, they also come out to be the most cost-effective bulb on the list, since you won’t need to replace them as often (just one bulb lasts about 15,000 hours) and they’ll end up consuming less energy overall.
4. Set Up a Programmable Thermostat
Your home should be a place of comfort, so it’s understandable that you’d want the temperatures inside your home to be “just so” no matter what Mother Nature decides to do. However, leaving your heat or air conditioning running while you’re away or even when you’re sleeping can be a waste of energy and money. By setting up a programmable thermostat, you can schedule specific times for when you want to cool or heat your home. In doing so, you can save more than $100 a year! Some programmable thermostats can even be controlled remotely, giving you the ability to turn off and on your system as you please right from your smartphone.
